I remember helping my son, Nick, build his circle of support back when he was in high school. It was time to start planning for life beyond high school so we asked a person-centered planner to facilitate our meetings. A person-entered planner is an organizer and facilitator who records what is being shared.
We listed Nick’s likes and dislikes, areas of strength, and areas of need. We asked him about his goals. From there, we began creating his circle. Who would be helpful in helping Nick reach his goals? It was an interesting exercise and revealed, like so many circles do, that Nick’s acquaintances and friends circles needed further development.
Are you ready to create a circle of support? This issue outlines step-by-step how to do it. I hope you and your child enjoy the activity and that your child’s circle helps them reach their goals.
Best to you and yours,
Maria Schaertel
|
|
What is a circle of support? |
|
A circle of support is a group of people that forms a community around your child with a disability to assist them in defining and achieving personal, educational, or professional goals.
Members of the circle support the individual by encouraging self-determination and increasing independence. Members help to identify strengths, preferences, likes, and dislikes of the individual. The circle will also identify support needs in order to achieve a particular goal.
|
|
The importance of meaningful relationships |
|
Think of all the people you might have in your own circle of support: family, friends, acquaintances, and professionals in your life. Your child needs a network of people too.
“Relationships make life better. They make people healthier. They make people happier.” - Al Condeluci, national leader and consultant on human services and community issues. “We are wired for belonging, connection and being in relationship with one another.” - Inclusion gurus and authors Marsha Forest and Jack Pearpont.
|
|
Drawing a circle of support |
|
What you need: a piece of paper, a pencil/pen/marker, and a little time to reflect.
Draw a small circle in the middle of your page and label it with your child’s name. This represents your child today.
Now, add another circle around your child. This circle represents the people closest to your child – the people whom they love and who love them, most likely family members or even close friends. It might include a pet or a beloved stuffed animal. Write in those names.
Next, add another circle that is even further from the center. This represents friends and people your child likes a lot, but who didn’t make it into the first circle. These might be extended family members or people who have drifted away from the first circle. Label those people.
Next, add another circle representing your child’s acquaintances. It could be individuals or groups of people, probably those with shared strengths and interests. Perhaps church, school, or gym acquaintances.
And finally, the last circle will represent professionals. These are people you pay to be in your child’s life. For example, doctors, teachers, or direct support professionals may be in this circle.
Now, take a look at your child’s circle. Very often, the circles show that people who have disabilities have several loved ones who are very close to them and then many professionals included in their circles. Do you see gaps in the friends and acquaintances circles? This is fairly typical for people who have disabilities.
Your drawing – your child’s circle – will change throughout their life, but for now: Great job! You’ve drawn your first circle of support!
|
|
|
How to help your child build friendships and acquaintances |
|
It’s important to create opportunities for our children to meet and spend time with others who have shared interests or have something in common, whether your child is 5 or 35. Maybe encourage your child to participate in sports, community classes, clubs, or other recreational activities at school or in the community.
Get to know parents whose children share the same goals – to meet and make friends.
Suggest modifications to a club or other group that might make inclusion of your child possible.
Support the other members of a group in welcoming and accommodating your child and other children as well.
Adapted from Circles of Support presentation by Sue Mustard, Starbridge Advocate and Trainer.
|
|
|
Cultural differences in circles of support |
|
Ursula Nicholson, Starbridge Director of Employment, makes the following observations:
“When I worked in Medicaid Service Coordination, we did not have a lot of black and brown individuals receiving service in comparison to white individuals accessing services. In the ones that we served, many of them had a very small circle of support. Many of our people of color’s circle of support are working paycheck to paycheck and do not have the extra time to support family members.
At the same time, I also believe that many families of color are naturally supporting family members with a disability without accessing formal services such as OPWDD or ACCES-VR. A lot of families do not trust 'the system' and will take care of their own before reaching out for formal support/services as part of their cultural norm.”
|
|
|
Maritza Cubi, Starbridge Family Support Service Program Coordinator and a parent, shares her experience with creating a circle of support:
“So much depends on the individual family structure and the community that the person with a disability is a part of. I am part of a very large family, but I have very little support from my family. And I found it hard to find support for my child.
Sometimes in black and brown families, the family forms a tightly knit circle and is uncomfortable letting others in. They are accustomed to taking care of their own.”
|
|
|
Register for 2nd session in Intersectionality |
|
Beliefs and Disability
June 30, 2021 - noon - online
Join us for a round table discussion with the Reverend Kendrick Arthur Kemp Sr. We will discuss issues of accessibility, leadership, and acceptance within the realm of faith, religion, and spirituality. Reverend Kemp will share the journey of his intersections as they guided and equipped him, as well has how his connection to theology continues to strengthen and empower him.
This session is meant to be informational and in no way promoting the practice of any specific religious denomination.
Each event in our Intersectionality: The Pieces of Me series is FREE.
or call (585) 224-7399.
Intersectionality: The Pieces of Me is a series hosted by Starbridge and created by activists Jeiri Flores and Sabrina Smith. Each session will feature presenters with lived experience of disability and other marginalized identities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
